duckduckgos

Business Development

Opinionated

Valued Contributor

Member

Promotion Alert - Team Lead

Hello Fellow Sales Savages,

I just got the confirmation that I am going to be promoted into a Team Lead position at my organization.

The interview process went smoothly and I am looking forward to transitioning into this new type of role. I am currently in an individual contributor/support role and will be making the pivot into management.

What advice do you all have for this new position? It will be my first people management role in this organization and while I certainly have a path for how I plan to approach this, I would greatly appreciate any tips from you all.

If you are currently a BDR or can remember a time when you were a BDR, what would you have wanted to see from your new manager? What would you NOT want to see?

Looking forward to your responses.

🧢 Sales Management

💯 Promotions

19 comments

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CoorsKing

WR Officer

Retired King of the Coors Knights

1) congrats
2) remember you just got promoted and take things slow. I’ve seen people get promoted and turn into real shits because they suddenly think they are better than others
3) start to detach a bit - you really can’t play favorites so although you will have existing relationships with the team, remember you are viewed in a different light now
4) ask for feedback from the team as you ramp. What are you doing well, what could you improve, etc.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

+1 on congrats! Solid gold advice right here.

I'd also add:

- Think about managers and you enjoyed working for and managers you hated. Emulate the good behaviours and ensure you don't pick up the bad ones.

- Leadership can be a lonely place, so don't be afraid to go to YOUR boss for coaching, advice, and check ins.

duckduckgos

Opinionated

Business Development

@funcoupons thanks for this! Leveraging existing relationships for support and guidance makes a lot of sense and i'll remember not to be afraid to ask for coaching, advice with my new boss.

duckduckgos

Opinionated

Business Development

Appreciate this @bigmeech! The advice around detachment and feedback from the team is really helpful.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

1) WOOT WOOT!
2) Management is a skill, and like any skill, you need to build it up. Don't make the mistake of thinking you're going to be a great manager on day one. It takes time to build the soft skills, and even more, time to gain the trust and respect of your team.
3) Remember this: it's better to be respected than liked. You are now in charge of the performance and day-to-day of the folks who were just your peers...but you can't let that relationship stop you from putting your foot down. Gain respect by giving it and showing it.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Sweet! I'm loving the good news in here today. ❤

I'm going to add to keep communication open and please make sure your reps feel your support.

Rachet

Politicker

Account executive

1. That is awesome and that is something not everyone can get, good job
2. Don't Lie. What I mean here is don't just coach something cause you've heard it before. You were a rep and really understand the individual job. Give coaching and advise that would actually help. Your biggest strength right now is your recent experience on a book. You know the market right now and that is something you'll have on all the other leaders.
3. Think twice before making any big changes.

duckduckgos

Opinionated

Business Development

Honestly is always the best policy @ratchet thank you for the reminder!

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

Lets gooooo! Congrats!

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

HEY! It worked out. Congrats!

Write down, now, before you become stuck in manager brain, all of the shit that managers have done that drove you nuts. And then make sure to minimize the number of those things you do.

Werkzeug

Politicker

Account Executive

Congrats!
The trust and respect from your team is going to be paramount. Let them see that you are working as hard as they are. Spend some time live coaching your new reps and help them land those first couple of disco calls (if you're managing SDRs). They will respect you (and your time) more than they would if you were just posting Screenshots of the dash in the slack channel and calling it #leadership.

You are likely going to be faced with some "bro you've changed" from your former peers and that's OK. It happens every time, and the person who is saying that typically won't be around in 6-12 months. You'll know you're doing something right when you start hearing it.

One last thing, as a team lead your manager may try to pawn their work off on you and call it a "development opportunity". I'm not saying don't do it, but definitely watch out for that and don't feel guilty for pushing back.

Excited for you! Good luck! The WR has your back 👍

duckduckgos

Opinionated

Business Development

This advice is gold, thank you @Werkzeug!

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

MDR

Remember that you were hired for a reason: You have the qualities they want in a leader and the resume to back it up. Don't forget that, especially if/when doubt begins to creep in.

IAR

Account Executive

Congrats @duckduckgos! Be a leader and never be afraid to go first. And ask for feedback as mentioned 🤞🏻

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

Great success, very nice!

LanceDollarz

Opinionated

CEO

Congratulations!
Advice: Your team is a reflection of you. Take responsibility and don't make excuses for anything. Give credit and shoulder the blame. One the greatest joys you'll experience as a manager is watching your team succeed and training and mentoring future managers.

MR.StretchISR

Politicker

ISR

When you get your payout from your shares, leave.

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

ISR

I worked for a company that was pulled into a private equity portfolio and it was a war of attrition. Cutting costs everywhere, lack of investment. Watching our competitors invest and grow while we “found synergies”.

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duckduckgos

*Promotion Alert* - Team Lead

19 comments

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